Shloka 7
विप्रक्षत्रियवैश्यानां शुश्रूषा शूद्रकर्म तत् गृहस्थधर्मो नागेन्द्र सर्वभूतहितैषिता
viprakṣatriyavaiśyānāṁ śuśrūṣā śūdrakarma tat | gṛhasthadharmo nāgendra sarvabhūtahitaiṣitā ||
ନାଗେନ୍ଦ୍ର! ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ, କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ ଓ ବୈଶ୍ୟ—ଏଇ ତିନି ବର୍ଣ୍ଣଙ୍କ ସେବା କରିବାକୁ ଶୂଦ୍ରର କର୍ମ କୁହାଯାଏ। ଏବଂ ଗୃହସ୍ଥର ଧର୍ମ ହେଉଛି ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କ ହିତ ଚାହିବା।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines role-based duties: a Śūdra’s duty is service to the three higher varṇas, while a householder’s dharma is universal benevolence—actively wishing and working for the welfare of all beings.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising his listener (addressed as “Nāgendra,” i.e., serpent-lord) by summarizing key obligations tied to social order (varṇa) and life-stage (āśrama), emphasizing compassion as central to the householder’s path.